Lyra adjusted the huge bag tied to her back for the tenth time, even though it wasn't helping her nervousness at all. This was her first time stepping out of her home… the only place she had known since forever. A tiny wooden hut hidden deep, deep inside the forest, where sunlight barely touched the ground and the air always smelled like old magic and wildflowers.
That was her whole world.
Just her and her mother.
Her sweet mother who always spoke softly, always smiled warmly, always kept her close as if the world outside would swallow her. Lyra had never seen anyone else before not even once. She grew up thinking maybe it was just them in the world. Just two hearts living quietly far away from everything.
Then the invitation came.
A paper that glowed faintly, landing right in front of their hut like it had wings. Her mother held it for a long time before telling her the truth… that there were other people in the world. Many. Creatures she had never seen. A whole kingdom. A whole life Lyra never knew existed.
She didn't even know how to feel.
Excited? Scared? Both?
What if people were kind, like her mother?
Or… cruel, like the stories her mother warned her about?
She sighed shakily, staring at the unfamiliar path ahead until she spotted the huge building peeking above the trees.
Nocturne Academy.
Just the outside alone made her freeze in place. It wasn't like anything she had ever seen before. Tall black towers touching the sky, glowing symbols around the walls, arches shaped like wings and claws. The academy felt alive, like it was watching her approach.
She reached the gate just as a group of students ahead of her walked in. The moment they stepped through, a shimmering shield closed behind them.
Lyra panicked and ran, trying to slip in before it sealed completely, but as soon as she touched the barrier—
Boom.
The shield blasted her backward.
She hit the ground hard, her breath knocked out of her chest. Pain spread across her arms and back, and she winced as she pushed herself up slowly.
"W-What was… that…" she whispered, rubbing her elbow.
The shield still glowed in front of her, beautiful but intimidating. She hesitated before reaching out again, unsure if she should. Her fingertips were just about to touch the magic when—
"I'm sure you'll regret that."
Lyra jerked her hand back and turned quickly.
A girl stood behind her. Beautiful. Pale. Expressionless. She stared at Lyra like she had crawled out of the dirt.
Lyra smiled nervously. "Hello…"
The girl didn't smile back.
"Where are you from? The ground?" she asked, voice flat.
Lyra blinked and shook her head lightly.
The girl scoffed. "Use your admission letter to get access. The shield only opens for that." And just like that, she turned and walked in without even glancing back.
Lyra watched her leave, then whispered softly, "Thanks…"
She was smiling because she was talking to someonesomeone, someone who wasn't her mother. It felt strange, but in a nice way.
She pulled out the glowing invitation and held it toward the shield. The magic reacted instantly, scanning the paper with a soft hum before the barrier parted like opening water.
Lyra stared at it for a moment, afraid but also curious. Then she finally stepped through.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Inside the academy was… unbelievable.
Students filled the courtyard. Some walked in groups, talking loudly. Some sat alone under the tall trees reading glowing books. A few stood in circles practicing spells sparks of magic flying around like tiny stars. She spotted a bridge leading over a sparkling river, and beyond that, a huge waterfall where students lounged with books or chatted softly.
Her mouth hung open the entire time.
Everything was so bright, so alive, so full of things she had never imagined.
People stared at her as she passed, whispering. Their eyes lingered on her face, her hair, She didn't understand why, but she just kept smiling politely.
If only she knew…
They weren't staring because she looked strange.
They were staring because she was the most beautiful fairy they had ever seen maybe the most beautiful girl in the entire kingdom.
Lyra tried asking a few students for directions, but no one answered. They only glared at her, their eyes cold, as if she had no right to speak to them.
She lowered her gaze, swallowing the tiny lump forming in her throat.
Then someone tapped her back gently.
Lyra turned. A very beautiful girl with long curly hair smiled at her.
"What do you want?" the girl asked, but her tone was surprisingly friendly.
"I'm new here," Lyra said softly. "I don't know where to go. No one answered me."
"Ohh." The girl's smile grew a little. "They're ignoring you because you're a fairy. It's… normal here. Come, I'll take you to registration."
Lyra frowned. "What is wrong with being a fairy?"
The girl shrugged lightly as they began walking. "You'll find out later."
And with that, the academy swallowed Lyra deeper inside… her quiet steps leading her into a world she didn't know.
.
.
.
NIGHTTIME
Lyra let out a long sigh as she followed the other new students down the hallway. Everyone was dragging their feet, looking just as tired as she felt. They had been in the master's office since morning, listening to rules, warnings, schedules, and all the things they must never do inside Nocturne Academy.
It was too much for her.
Her head felt heavy. Even her heart felt heavy.
Everything here was strange and loud and big, nothing like her quiet little hut in the forest. She already missed home. She missed the smell of their warm fire, the sound of the trees whispering, and mostly… she missed her mother. She wondered if her mum was lonely now, sitting by herself in the jungle. Maybe she was staring at the door, waiting for Lyra to come back. The thought made her chest ache a little.
She walked slowly until she finally found the number written on her key.
Her room.
She pushed the key into the lock, twisted it, and gently pushed the door open.
The room was dim, lit only by a small candle sitting on the table. Someone was sitting there, flipping through a book. When the girl heard the door open, she looked up.
"Oh, I guess you're the new roommate," she said… then her face brightened all at once. "Oh! It's you."
Lyra blinked, then smiled softly. It was the girl who had helped her earlier. A warm relief washed through her chest.
"Yes… it's me," she muttered shyly.
"This is awesome," the girl grinned and hurried to help her. She lifted Lyra's bag from her shoulder and carried it to the other side of the room. "Come on, this bed is yours."
Lyra looked around slowly. Her bed was small but neat, with soft sheets. There was a tiny wooden table beside it and a little wardrobe for her clothes. Everything was simple but clean, and it felt… safe.
The girl wasted no time in helping her unpack. She seemed excited and cheerful, like someone who always had energy.
"I'm really glad I got paired with a fairy like myself," the girl said happily. "You should be glad too. I'm Echo, by the way."
Lyra set her bag down and smiled quietly. "I'm Lyra."
Echo smiled even brighter. "Such a pretty name."
Lyra felt her cheeks warm. She wasn't used to compliments. Back home, it was always just her mother telling her she was lovely, and she thought maybe mothers were supposed to say that. Hearing it from someone else felt strange… but nice.
Echo continued organizing Lyra's things as if she'd known her forever.
"You should rest now," she said, .. She was too powerful, too beautiful. She stared at him and suddenly her eyes glowed golden, bright and dangerous, and she moved closer until her face was almost touching his.
"You won't send me out like some slave," she said softly, her voice deep and tempting. "We will have fun until I am satisfied."
She barely finished talking when her whole body flew backwards like something pushed her with full force. She hit the hard ground with a loud thud, and a sharp sound followed like a bone snapping. Her mouth opened in pain, her eyes wide in total shock. Before she could even breathe, Kael was already on her, his hand wrapping around her throat so fast she didn't see him move.
His eyes were burning darkly, filled with a very dangerous anger.
"You will never try your manipulative spell on me again," he said, his voice low, filled with venom.
Sirena tried to speak but her voice cracked. Her spell didn't work. It always worked. Everyone always went weak under her magic. Everyone except him. Panic filled her face.
"I… won't… I… am… sorry…" she choked out, struggling for air.
Kael let go of her neck and she collapsed on the floor, gasping and shaking. She held her throat, her whole body trembling as she tried to understand how her spell failed.
"You know what to do," Kael said coldly without even looking at her.
Sirena rushed up, grabbed her clothes with shaking hands, and ran out of the room without looking back, leaving the door open behind her.
Kael stayed there, breathing slowly like he was trying to calm something inside him. He grabbed his opium pipe, lit it, and inhaled deeply. His head was in a mess. His whole body felt like it was burning from inside.
"They are here… more of them… tear them apart… destroy them all…" a deep voice growled in his head. His wolf side.
"I make the rules, not you," another voice replied sharply. His vampire side.
Both started fighting inside him again. His head started pounding like it was going to break open. His breath shook. His hands trembled slightly.
This was what he faced every single day.
The blood of an Alpha wolf.
The blood of a Vampire king.
Two monsters fighting every second.
And tonight… he was losing control again.